Amblyseius orientalis shows high consumption and reproduction on Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks) in China

Abstract

The broad mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks) (Acari: Tarsonemidae), is a cosmopolitan pest that infest many greenhouse crops. Biological control is an important way to control P. latus, with predatory mites being the most widely used natural enemy of this pest. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the capabilities of three native phytoseiids in China (Neoseiulus californicus, Neoseiulus barkeri and Amblyseius orientalis) in controlling P. latus, using Amblyseius swirskii, a commercial biological control agent of this pest widely used in Europe as a control. Consumption, development, and reproduction of the four species when fed with P. latus were assessed, and their life table parameters were estimated and compared. Among the three native species, A. orientalis has the highest consumption rate of P. latus (29.0 per day), the shortest developmental duration (5.32 d), and the highest cumulative fecundity (13.50 eggs/female). Overall, its intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm) is 0.12, comparable to that of A. swirskii. Among the three candidates, A. orientalis is the only one that population increase might be expected when fed with P. latus. Therefore, we suggest it to be a potential biological control agent for this pest in China.